5 ways the South Carolina General Assembly will impact Upstate families this week

COLUMBIA – Families' tax bills, money for a children's theater in Greenville and an attempt to prevent funding from reaching Planned Parenthood are among issues South Carolina lawmakers are expected to consider this week as they return for a short legislative session.

The Senate is scheduled to return Tuesday afternoon, and both the Senate and state House could meet Wednesday.

Here are five issues at stake that could impact Upstate families:

Tax conformity

Because federal tax reform passed last year, states had to conform their own tax codes in response. South Carolina hasn't yet, and without action, South Carolina taxpayers would face more headaches come tax time in 2019. Gov. Henry McMaster in May urged lawmakers to pass a conformity bill that includes tax relief after a state study that found simply tying the federal and state tax codes could result in taxpayers paying $180 million more.

Because the federal tax law changes increased the standard deduction but eliminated personal exemptions on federal returns, the challenge for lawmakers was to conform to federal tax law without increasing South Carolina taxpayers' tax burden.

The House passed a bill to address the issue in May. In September, the Senate Finance Committee amended that bill with a proposal that was brought to the Senate floor on Tuesday. That proposal would add a state deduction for dependents of $4,110, and for dependents under the age of 6, it would add another $4,110 for a total exemption of $8,220.

The Senate gave key approval of the bill 37-4 Tuesday afternoon. If the bill receives final reading Wednesday, it will go to the House where House Majority Leader Gary Simrill predicts it will pass.

South Carolina Children's Theatre

Gov. Henry McMaster vetoed $500,000 lawmakers had approved for the South Carolina Children's Theatre in Greenville in July. Established in 1987, the organization is the largest year-round children's theater in the state. According to its website, the theater stages five live performances featuring children and adults at various venues near downtown, including the Peace Center’s Gunter Theatre and the organization's temporary headquarters in the West Village.

Planned Parenthood funding

Among his 42 budget vetoes, McMaster vetoed nearly $16 million in Medicaid assistance for family planning, including birth control and prenatal care for the disadvantaged. McMaster's veto is meant to ensure Planned Parenthood does not receive any fraction of that amount, though critics note none of the money pays for abortions.

McMaster has said he doesn't want any money going to Planned Parenthood, even if the funding is not specifically for abortions. The governor signed an order earlier this year to remove organizations that provide abortions from the state's Medicaid provider list, even for family planning or other healthcare services. A judge in August issued a temporary restraining order against McMaster's directive until the issue can be reviewed.

Colleges' "other" funds on state budget

Until this year, all colleges and universities, including Upstate schools such as Clemson University, reported the amount of tuition and fees they collected to state officials and it was reported each year in the state budget in the category of "other funds." This year, lawmakers decided to remove the more than $3 billion from budget documents, arguing that lawmakers never debated those type of funds anyway.

McMaster said the public, including students and parents, have a right to see just how much the schools collect each year in tuition and fees, and he vetoed what lawmakers had done.

John de la Howe School

Lawmakers in this year's budget moved $418,000 in one-time money from the John de la Howe School to McCormick County schools, where some students at John de la Howe have attended classes.

The governor vetoed that move, saying there is new leadership at the tiny alternative school and no students are transferring to McCormick schools.